The Washington Capitals (23-8-4) take on the New York Islanders (22-10-4) Thursday with a 7 p.m. ET puck drop at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Below, we analyze the Capitals-Islanders odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Capitals are coming off a 5-2 thumping against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden Tuesday. That snapped a three-game win streak which saw them outscore the opposition 13-7. Washington hasn’t dropped back-to-back games since a four-game skid from Feb. 1-14.
The Islanders are looking to recover after a two-game sweep on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins; they were outscored 8-4. New York returns home for the first time since March 20, when they socked around the Philadelphia Flyers by a 6-1 score. The Islanders haven’t lost three in a row since a five-game slide from Jan. 24-31.
Capitals at Islanders: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:45 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Capitals +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Islanders -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Capitals +1.5 (-250) | Islanders -1.5 (+200)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +105 | U: -125)
Capitals at Islanders: Projected starting goalies
Ilya Samsonov (8-1-1, 2.39 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Semyon Varlamov (14-7-3, 2.19 GAA, .922 SV%, 3 SO)
Samsonov has won each of his past two outings, and six of his previous seven starts overall. That includes a 3-1 win over the Islanders March 16 when he allowed just one goal on 22 shots. He wrapped up March with a 6-1-0 record, 2.17 GAA and .920 SV% in seven starts and one relief appearance
Varlamov is skidding, losing three of his past four starts, including a 3-1 setback opposite Samsonov March 16. Still, he allowed 3 or fewer goals in seven of his eight starts in March.
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Capitals at Islanders: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Islanders 4, Capitals 3
Money line (ML)
The ISLANDERS (-130) are a decent value on home ice in this battle between top teams in the East Division. New York has won each of its past five home games following a road trip of seven or more days and is also 13-4 across its past 17 games as a favorite.
While the Capitals have won four of their past five games in this series, and six of their past seven trips to the Island, New York is the play due to its 19-7 record at home across the past 26.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The Islanders -1.5 (+200) are a tempting play at this price, as it has a chance to double up; however, the Capitals have won four of the past five meetings in this series.
It’s best to AVOID, and focus on the money line which is risky enough.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 5.5 (+105) has hit in four of the past six games for the Islanders, and each of their past three on home ice. The Over is also 10-2-1 across the past 13 games at home for the Isles.
The Caps hit the Over in their recent home-and-home with the Rangers, and the Over is 3-1 across their past four overall.
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